About Nellie Boustead

Rizal having lost Leonor Rivera, entertained the thought of courting other ladies. While a guest of the Boustead family at their residence in the resort city of Biarritz, he had befriended the two pretty daughters of his host, Eduardo Boustead. Rizal used to fence with the sisters at the studio of Juan Luna. Antonio Luna, Juan’s brother and also a frequent visitor of the Bousteads, courted Nellie but she was deeply infatuated with Rizal. In a party held by Filipinos inMadrid, a drunken Antonio Luna uttered unsavory remarks against Nellie Boustead. This prompted Rizal to challenge Luna into a duel. Fortunately, Luna apologized to Rizal, thus averting tragedy for the compatriots.

Their love affair unfortunately did not end in marriage. It failed because Rizal refused to be converted to the Protestant faith, as Nellie demanded and Nellie’s mother did not like a physician without enough paying clientele to be a son-in-law. The lovers, however, parted as good friends when Rizal leftEurope.

"Rizal's European experience was complete with hanging out in bistros and cafes, sharing beer at country inns, and dressing for elegant balls, masked or otherwise.  Photo shows Rizal (left) be-turbanned for a party with friends Paz Pardo de Tavera, Luna, Nelly Bousted, [emphasis - rly], Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo and two unidentified ladies." In Excelsis: The Mission of Jose P. Rizal, Humanist and Philippine National Hero by Felice Prudenta Sta. Maria (Makati City: Studio Five Designs, Inc., 1996)